Cheers for your warm company. Do join us back for Mahela's final Test at Colombo, starting on the 14th. He has racked up 2863 Test runs at an average of over 75 at the SSC. Can he sign off with a big one in his farewell Test? On that note, we take leave. Take care and adios!

Mathews: 'It was one of the best games that I have been part of. Kumar was brilliant and Rangana got us back into the game. We have been playing pretty good cricket, we never gave up till the last ball was bowled. Mahela is an unbelievable player, thanks to him on the behalf of the team. Hopefully we will send him off in the right way with a win. I was praying (when enquired about bad light and rain). We will try to enjoy the victory and try to win the next game.'

Misbah: "It was tough. The dropped catches were vital. We dropped Sanga, that really hurt us and we could have improved our batting in the second innings. We were just trying to take the game till the end, the weather was like that. Sri Lanka deserved to win. They were right on top of their game. We posted a good first innings total. Ajmal was a big positive for us, Younis is in good form, Junaid bowled well. We need to forget these sort of games but you need to give credit to the opposition. Sanga's innings put us back under pressure and Rangana bowled a superb spell.'

Herath: 'We have stayed together and worked as a unit. If you take this match and last 2-3 games, we have done well. There is usually something in the pitch on the fourth and fifth days. This is our gift to Mahela. Congrats to Sanga, he set up the game for us.'

Rangana Herath is the Man of the Match

Mahela: 'It is very special (the firecrackers go boom again). The best thing is the team. We have been playing well in the last 12 months. Emotions aside, we will enjoy this win. Sanga was brilliant and so was Angie. I will try to enjoy the final game as much as I can and try to win it.'

Jayananda Warnaweera (chief curator at Galle) presents a special award to Mahela for his outstanding contribution to cricket.

As I type rain continues to lash Galle. Do stick around for the presentation and quotes from both the captains.

Early on, Rangana Herath, with his straighter ones, turners and carrom balls, spun a web around the visitors, bowling them out for 180 with a 6-fer. He was ably backed up by Dilruwan. The story could have been uglier for Pakistan if not for Sarfraz's fighting fifty. What a thrilling finish amid near pitch darkness with Sri Lanka exacting revenge for their loss in Sharjah in January in similar conditions!

So, Sri Lanka have braved rain and the Pakistani challenge to go 1-0 up in Mahela's farewell series. There was an enormous buzz around Galle when their hero walked out to open the batting alongside Tharanga. Mahela though flattered to deceive and so did his old bro, Sanga. Mathews then sealed the 99-run chase inside the stipulated 21 overs with an assortment of meaty pulls before the rain came down.